Arrest Warrant Issued against Lalit Modi

Special court of India has issued arrest warrant against Lalit Modi as per the allegations of money laundering in controversial television deal. A non bailable warrant was issued by court in Mumbai after Lalit Modi failed to answer to the summons for his return from London to face allegations against him in court. The ex-IPL chairman, Lalit Modi did not respond to the summons sent to him as a result of which Indian financial crime investigation agency sent an official warrant for his arrest. Investigating officer confirmed the news that warrant has been issued.

Lalit Modi was blamed for fleeing to London as tax authorities raided his home. Investigating officers want to have a word with Lalit Modi in connection with the allegations related to TV deal to un-authorized personals in Mauritius and Singapore. While selling the Broadcast rights of IPL, Indian company Multi Screen Media Company gave away $90 million to Mauritius World Sports Group (WSG). Investigating team is probing allegations that part of the payment fees was given to unknown people as per directions of Lalit Modi, who was IPL chairman at that time.

Another controversy was linked with Lalit Modi and Sushma Swaraj, in which the Swaraj helped him in gaining passport to Britain. Sushma Swaraj has been under pressure since then and has been forced to resign from her new role of Foreign minister. Lalit Modi has been banned for life from holding any form of position in IPL by ruling board of cricket-BCCI.

However, Lalit Modi has denied any kind of accusations against him. Since the inception of IPL, series of corruption charges and match fixing scandals have overshadowed the game and creating serious doubts about the game. In the recent decisions of Supreme court, a suspension has been issued to Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings after the team officials were found guilty of illegal betting allegations.

“We will now forward the court’s orders to the Home Ministry. They could forward it then to the Home Department in the UK or to the Interpol,” said a source in the Enforcement Directorate, which handles cases of money-laundering.

According to ED, Modi “was not authorized to terminate the media rights contract with …MSMS.”